Responding to Emergencies

Rami always cried when he saw a plane, but now he knows they won’t hurt him. He loves his Early Childhood Education Centre and is learning how to read.

– Amani, mother of Rami, 3, Lebanon
Three-year-old Rami peers out of his tent in Lebanon, wearing a warm sweater and looking contented. His face is a little dirty but his hair has been cut and his eyes are bright.
A little boy smiles and waves at the camera, from the World Vision tent where he is playing. He’s sitting on a colourful mat on the ground, with crayons lying beside him.

All children deserve to live without fear. This year, we brought new hope to children living in 11 of the world’s most dangerous places, including those who have become refugees in their flight to find safety. In countries everywhere, World Vision answers the call for help in emergencies caused by natural disasters and civil conflicts.

Ways in which you helped impact lives for good:

Ethiopia In Ethiopia, two adults lean down to lift a large sack of food from a stack of sacks.

In 19 major emergencies worldwide, we responded quickly with interventions like clean water, nourishing food, safe shelter, and protection for children from harm and exploitation. Often, we were already working in the area, so were among the first to the scene.

Syria A girl in a head scarf leans down protectively near two little boys in Syria, her arm around one of them. There’s a white tent right behind them. The sun looks strong.

As humanitarian access to families trapped in northern Syria increased, we worked with Syrian NGO partners to serve 206,923 people in desperate need. 4,647 children and youth found respite in our child-friendly spaces, where they could receive much-needed support and protection.

Malawi A child about 10 years old stands near a field of green crops in Malawi, holding a blue bowl filled with water. Other children gather behind.

The El Nino weather phenomenon made living off the land impossible, forcing families around the world into crisis. World Vision assisted 4,172,569 people with help such as emergency food and nutrition, improved food security, and access to clean water.

Afghanistan In Afghanistan, a woman sits on the ground and helps a baby to stand. The woman looks proudly up at the child. The child smiles and looks healthy.

You helped us empower mothers in Afghanistan, equipping women elected by their communities to teach others about child and maternal health. Our 4 mobile health clinics reached 48,045 people displaced by conflict, providing critical care to families in need.

North Korea A group of preschool-aged children sits beside a low table in North Korea, eating from bowls full of noodles. They are not smiling, but they are looking intently into the camera. Their clothes are bright and clean.

The noodle factories we supported in North Korea created nourishment for 42,146 children in kindergartens and nursery schools. A steady food supply can improve children’s health, preventing many long- and short-term health problems.

Honduras In Honduras, a woman looks intently into the face of the baby she’s holding beside her. The weather looks to be very warm, as the child is perspiring.

As the Zika virus continued to spread, we helped to control mosquito-breeding sites, to educate children about staying safe from infection, and to monitor pregnant women for symptoms. Together with community partners, we reached 434,569 people in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Ecuador In Ecuador, a large group of children sit on the ground amid a number of bags and backpacks with the World Vision logo on them. The children look quiet and tired.

When a violent earthquake rocked communities on the west coast of Ecuador, we helped 15,189 families survive in the months that followed. Thanks to you, we delivered 3,048 shelter kits, giving children a place to lay their heads in the immediate aftermath.